3 Lessons The Tarot Deck Has Taught Me by Kate Van Horn

The most common question I get when I tell others I read tarot cards?

“SO, YOU CAN, LIKE, PREDICT THE FUTURE?!?”

Well, not quite.

I choose to view tarot as a spiritual ritual, and most importantly, a conversation starter. Sometimes that means a quiet conversation with myself after meditation, or a group reading with a few women in a yoga class after I teach, OR a 1:1 reading with someone who’s seeking some guidance at a retreat.

I’ve learned the conversations that come up tend to be some of the most reassuring, alarming, or hopeful I’ve ever had - the most vulnerable and truthful. The cards don’t have the answers; we do. The cards are simply a tool that can bring some clarity, provide a kick in the ass (because we totally need that sometimes) or a message that brings peace of mind.

No matter what, every time I shuffle those cards to see what unfolds, I learn more about myself, as well, which is why I keep coming back to them!

3 LESSONS I’VE LEARNED SINCE INCORPORATING TAROT CARDS INTO MY PRACTICE

1. THE MESSAGE YOU MOST NEED WILL KEEP FINDING YOU, UNTIL YOU LISTEN.

When I FIRST started working with my tarot deck, I began by simply choosing one card per day. I highly recommend doing this, if you’re just starting to dabble in tarot. Each day, I’d study the imagery of the card I pulled, then read more about the meaning after, using my own intuition for interpretation.

Some weeks, I’d pull the same card… over, and over… and over again.

Usually it was one I didn’t particularly like. Sometimes it wasn’t at all light and bright and cheerful, but instead, messy and murky and dark. I’d avoid it, and would tell myself it wasn’t MY card. No way was THAT meant for me.

Oh, silly me.

If you continuously pull the same card, it’s most definitely YOUR card. Pay attention. Face it head on, and know that resistance will not help you reach the desired outcome.

For example, I’ve had the Temperance card FLY out of the deck to the floor while I was shuffling. Then I had the very same thing happen again the next day. It was a card and concept I needed at the time. I had been living and working from a place of ego and competition, (the fire element) while neglecting my emotional body, relationships and self care (the water element). I was lacking balance and harmony between the four elements, and reacting only from a fiery intensity, which was causing me to slowly, but surely, burn out. The Temperance card depicts a heron literally blending the fire and water elements, and represents harmony. Coincidence? I think not.

And since working through this, and making necessary changes, I have not pulled Temperance for myself since!

2. LIFE IS NOT LINEAR, EVERYTHING IS A CYCLE.

In our day to day lives, we can get so caught up in the minutia that we forget this. We forget that everything isn’t black and white, point A to point B, win or lose.

The tarot consists of the Major and Minor Arcanas. The Major arcana is numbered 0 to 21, and begins with the naive and spontaneous The Fool card, all the way to the completeness of The World. It journeys through beautiful and difficult life lessons.

Then the minor arcana is similar to the suits of a deck of playing cards. It holds four suits - swords, wands, pentacles (or coins) and cups. These suits follow a cycle, as well. Beginning with the ace and ending with 10, these cards, too, represent a cycle.

When I pull an Ace card, I know newness and a fresh perspective could be on the way.  I pay close attention to the people I'm meeting and ideas I'm having. When I pull something later in the suit like a 9 or 10, I reflect on what could be coming to an end, be it a conflict, project, or feeling that has been lingering. Since working with tarot, I’ve been challenged and inspired to look at other cycles differently, trying to notice the feelings and reactions our bodies and minds have with the changing of seasons, or the moon cycles.

3. I'M NOT WEIRD FOR ENJOYING TAROT. I'M PRACTICING TRUST, STRENGTHENING MY INTUITION, AND SUPPORTING MYSELF.

Working with my tarot deck reaffirms what I already know. It empowers me as I move forward with life's challenges and joys. It's been through the practice of choosing the cards that I began to trust the strength of my own intuition. Sometimes I'll think about a scenario or problem I need clarity on, start to guess what card I think will show up, then sure enough, it does!

Yes, these cards can feel a little "witchy". But to have faith in something, and a routine that supports you spiritually and emotionally, is far from "weird". While some can look at tarot cards and other affirmative practices as pointless, silly, or superstitious, I look at them as an opportunity to tap in and check in with myself.

I highly recommend journaling after you pull tarot cards, or have a reading with someone. Not only with this help you process the information and meaning behind the card and imagery. It will also let you assess your emotional reaction to it, and know that your inner guide and light won't steer you wrong!

Join Kate to learn more about strengthening your intuition on the Conscious Creators Retreat, where the jungle meets the ocean in Costa Rica, from November 16th to 21st.

The Energy of Yes & No in Life by Ava Johanna

“Attitude is everything,” is one of those overused sayings that we’ve all had jammed into our conscious. But, how does it become everything? Where does it start, and where does it take over? We wake up every morning with an attitude - ‘good’ or ‘bad’ - and from there, we go about our day. It controls how we communicate with others, ourselves, and how we approach our yoga practice. Attitude can make or break you. It’s the one thing illuminating or clouding your path.

Baron Baptiste, the founder of Baptiste Institute, wrote in his book, Perfectly Imperfect, the two ways that we can show up to our yoga mat and life. We either show up as a ‘yes’, or as a ‘no’. This concept may seem black and white. You may say, “What about all the other emotions you can feel? It’s not that straightforward.” But it is.

The attitude of ‘yes’ and ‘no’ carry two very different energies, and within those energies, we either find growth or resistance. ‘Yes’ gives us room for opportunity and possibility. On the other hand, ‘no’ tends to shut everything out, leaving us complacent and in our comfort zone.

The Power of Yes

When we carry the energy of ‘yes’, we immediately open ourselves up for expansion, and manifestation begins. This attitude is the first tool you need to create your own reality. Showing up to your mat as a ‘yes’ drives your confidence, your focus, and your willingness to learn and explore your practice. Maybe with this attitude, you’re finally able to nail that tripod headstand, or drop into your meditation with ease.

The starting point of all creation, the starting point of any change that you wish to manifest, is picturing the desired outcome in your mind. The only way to see that picture is to begin with the attitude of ‘yes’.

The Detriment of No

In turn, if we carry the negative energy of ‘no’, we approach our mats with stubbornness and resistance. This could be a day you felt tired and immediately began making excuses for yourself. Maybe you didn’t even make it to your mat, or you made it, but had a bad attitude. Each pose feels out of whack, and your focus is all over the place. This energy takes away from the practice you’ve grown to love, and stops growth in its tracks.

Our thoughts become things, so you can see how influential it is for us to show up as a ‘yes’, rather than a ‘no’, if we want to continue down a path of achievement.

Off The Mat

Asana is only one of the limbs of yoga, and our attitude extends much further than the four corners of a mat. For many of us, the practice of yoga began in a studio, and has transformed into how we approach our lives. By taking this same energy of willingness, our frequency vibrates with enthusiasm that we can pass on to other areas of our lives, as well as people surrounding us. In this age of evolution, we have the ability to shape the world around us that all begins with our approach.

For example, if you find no pleasure in your job, you may begin each day wishing you didn’t have to go into your office. You show up and keep your head down, waiting for the clock to strike 5:00pm. You’re never offered a promotion, because you have no desire for it. You carry the closed off energy of ‘no.’ Conversely, let’s say you don’t really enjoy your job, but you know that there’s a possibility for you to launch your own business. You show up every day with the vision of something else, and look for every opportunity to get you closer to it. You show your eagerness for a change in scenery, and everyone takes notice. Your new awareness keeps you on your toes, and you’re alert enough to see an opening for you to finally leave that position and start your own hustle.

Be True To Your Journey

While the goal may seem to have a positive attitude around every aspect of your life, know that that is not natural, and you should always strive to follow what feels best for you. It’s natural to have bad days and have a bad attitude because it keeps us balanced and human. It’s natural for some things to never feel good for you, and that’s just the universe communicating that it’s not in your journey

All we can do is notice what we want and where we want to go, and show up ready to get there. Show up with the energy of ‘yes’, and create your reality. The rest will follow.

By Ava Johanna

Join Ava to learn more about the subtle energies that allow you to manifest whatever you desire in life on the Conscious Creators Retreat, where the jungle meets the ocean in Costa Rica, from November 16th to 21st.

The Makings of an AcroYogi by Anna Karides

Νοῦς ὑγιὴς ἐν σώματι ὑγιεῖ - As the Ancient Greek saying goes, "healthy mind in healthy body," meaning in order to have a healthy mind, you must take care of your body, too. 

Ever since I can remember, being active has been a part of my everyday life.  

I have always been fascinated by anything that involves the human body - its movements, capabilities and limitations. I tried everything I was exposed to - from 13 years of classical ballet, to swimming, tennis and even judo.  In my teenage years, I started running competitively in cross-country races and partaking in aerobic marathons. 

However, this was too much for my body, and by ignoring the warnings to rest, I suffered a stress-fracture on my hip.

Yoga had always intrigued me, and little did I know it would be the answer to rehabilitating not only my hip injury, but also the asthma attacks that had been troubling me for years. 

I started practicing yoga through books I discovered in Cyprus. And then after moving to London, I visited nearly every studio I could find and began exploring a variety of different styles. I practiced regularly and developed a growing fascination for backbends, arm balances and inversions. So, a few years later, I embarked on the journey to become a Certified Yoga Teacher, as my thirst for learning more about the yogic philosophy surfaced. Very soon after I came across AcroYoga, and instantly got hooked! 

AcroYoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the dynamic power of acrobatics, and the loving kindness of healing arts. These three lineages form the foundation of a practice that cultivates trust, playfulness and community.

There’s more to AcroYoga than beautiful and elegant poses that never go unnoticed. Unlike most other forms of yoga, AcroYoga is performed mainly in pairs or in groups. Poses that can be challenging in your solo practice, can be achieved safely with the support of your partner. Rather than getting into an asana on your own, you are sharing the experience of that pose with someone else. In addition to the emotional and spiritual connection you share with a fellow yogi, you’re also teaching your body how to build strength in brand new ways.

Working with a partner helps you move beyond your own self-limiting ideas of what you can and can’t do, and it offers a unique opportunity to relate deeply to another person. Trust, connection and playfulness are the major principles of AcroYoga, and anyone who has experienced this practice can confirm this. 

Flying, which plays a major role in AcroYoga classes, is a practice in which all of our emotional withholds manifest in a physical form. If partners are not able to work harmoniously during flying, more likely than not, there is an emotional/psychological explanation for the imbalance. In order to relax, the flyer has to really trust the base. In therapeutic flying, the less relaxed the flyer is, the less effective and enjoyable the “flight” is.

Additionally, flying utilizes gravity to release and open the flyer’s spine while grounding and empowering the base. Flying Flows can range from gentle, massaged-based stretches to more dynamic balancing or acrobatic sequences.

You learn how to use your body to lift someone else of any size by using the right technique and having no fear of gravity. You learn how to let go and trust in the strength of someone else to hold you up, while communicating with them to ensure you’re both comfortable and safe. These lessons of strength, trust, communication and letting go are concepts that you can carry with you into your daily life. 

I have been teaching AcroYoga all around the world for over 10 years now, and it’s incredible to see the joyous effect it has on people. Due to the nature of it being a very social style of yoga, it brings people together and creates community. 

This practice is ideal for those who enjoy inversions and love to work with partners or in groups, but there is no previous experience needed. AcroYoga welcomes everyone with open arms. Modifications and variations are always provided to suit all. Just come with an open heart. Be prepared to have a great time and accomplish way more that you thought you were capable of! 

Join Anna from November 3rd to 8th in the magical land of Bali to Liberate & Fly!

Accessing Your Inner Healer by Niki Saccareccia

If you had to pinpoint one thing that always helps you accomplish your goals, what would you say? It’s the same thing that helps you complete everyday tasks like getting groceries, driving home and posting something on social media. It’s the same thing that teaches you how to listen to the needs of your heart. It’s the same thing that transforms a person doing yoga poses into someone who practices yoga. 

What do you give repeatedly, day in and day out, that can both completely exhaust you and completely replenish you? 

The answer to both of these questions is: attention. Attention is our greatest resource. It is not expensive, but it can cost you everything! It can be broken, fragmented, drained and stolen. It can also be cultivated, fortified and harnessed. Attention can be channeled. And the ability to channel a concentrated amount of attention in one direction, onto one thing, is what creates transformation. 

There is an ancient intelligence alive in each of us. It breathes, it learns, it adapts and it allies with us in every moment to ensure that we are taken care of. It is faceless, genderless, ageless. It collaborates with our five senses. It remembers everything, even when our mind forgets. It is this inner healing intelligence that draws us to our spiritual mentors, to the kindred spirits we call friends and family, and to those difficult gifts that teach us the great lessons of our lives. Sometimes it forces our attention through pain and upset. Sometimes it dawns on us as synchronicity, perfect timing or total coincidence. Accessing the inner healer isn’t difficult, but it can feel that way when we’re not in the right environment to hear it and receive its offerings of mental clarity and peace. 

Even against our best intentions, we can become masters of ignoring our inner healing intelligence. We can find ourselves stuck in a habit of distraction and constant multi-tasking. 

Taking retreat from what we’re used to is a strategic way to disrupt our comfort zone, so that we can tap back into the wellspring of health within us. For five nourishing nights and six immersive days under the Tuscan sun this summer, we are going to unplug from work. We’re unplugging from our hometown, our TV shows, our timezones. And we’re getting a little uncomfortable (in a really good way). Interrupting our everyday way disrupts the desensitized, overstimulated Self and reawakens the spiritually conscious, alert and curious Self. The self that heals is also the self that breathes deeply. The self that moves intentionally is the same self that is open to foreign experiences. Taking time away from our normal routine gives us the chance to experience life more mindfully - even if you don’t have any formal training in mindfulness or yoga. I will take you in to this frame of mind and keep you in it for a full week at Sant’engle in Tuscany, Italy. 

This is the break you need from everything you’re used to, everything you’re bored by, everything you’re tired of, and everything you want to appreciate from afar. 

Everyday we will have two formal yoga practices, curated with a theme that we’ll embody during our excursions. We’ll have free time to relax or explore the local village, and organic meals with ingredients from the farm on our retreat property. We’ll remember how to take our yoga practice off the mat and into our lives. I will teach you specific techniques for increasing your ability to focus and discipline your mind while nourishing your senses in only the way that Italy can. 

You will experience:

• Yoga Nidra, the meditative science of increasing spiritual consciousness and supplementing sleep deprivation

• Breathwork to gradually increase attention span, endurance and healing properties within the nervous system. 

• Enough time and space to really hear yourself, and feel yourself. This kind of spiritual hearing is how we access the inner healing intelligence.

For a small dose of what it will feel like, take six deep breaths, inhaling for six counts, exhaling for eight slow counts. 

More to come, in Italia! Join Niki June 15th to 20th in the stunning Tuscan countryside to access your inner healer and transform your life.

Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone by Zoe Wirth

Quitting my job to work for myself was scary... but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

For most of my professional career, I worked in a high-end fashion house retail environment. With commission based sales and a comfortable salary, I can't deny that I loved certain aspects of my job. It led me to working as a fashion stylist for photoshoots, music videos…you name it! However, amidst the sparkle and the glamor, I felt a lack of meaning and fulfillment.

I was initially attracted to working with clothing as a method of self expression in hopes of appearing strong and respected. I discovered there was a lot of power in external beauty and I quickly became obsessed with it. At the time, is was very chic to have stick straight hair, so I flat-ironed my curls and wore low-rise diesel jeans. To paint a better picture, this was the late 90’s and early 2000’s - some may say one of the worst moments in fashion history. Thankfully, my style matured and changed.

Throughout college, I had worked retail for extra money. As I graduated in 2008 during the financial crisis, the economy's decline lead me to working in retail again. Rather than landing a position that would make my parents proud, my retail job introduced me to the first stylist I would assist and my career working in wardrobe began.

I loved the craft of styling and being on set. Luckily, the stylist I was assisting was incredibly kind, and in fact, we are still in contact today! But this was only my first experience, and the more high-end the jobs became, and the more expensive the merchandise was, the more pressure piled up. I began to feel creatively stifled as I worked with corporate clients just to pay the bills.

Shortly thereafter, I had reached a plateau and was no longer growing. I was partying too much, staying up too late and wearing questionably uncomfortable footwear. However this stagnation was where I found my practice of yoga again. I had lived with a yoga teacher, who was also a fellow shop-girl/stylist moving towards becoming a full time teacher, and she did eventually make the shift!

My parents are also yogis, so I had done yoga in the past, but I was just a kid and I totally didn’t get it. I saw it more as a bunch of smelly hippie guys trying to massage my mom. Gross! But my roommate’s practice was different. She taught Vinyasa yoga, and it felt fun, free flowing and intuitive. I quickly found that I could grow in this format as she randomly told me I should become a yoga instructor. When she expressed the idea, a light bulb went off.

I saved up, quit my job, started studying yoga more and discovered where I wanted to do my training. This lead me to White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, California. Fast forward, and here I am today - a full-time yoga teacher. Sure, I still pick up a styling gig from time to time, and I love it.

I do not take this kind of work for granted. Clothing is a great way to work on yourself and your confidence from the outside in. There’s a reason why it is called retail therapy, after-all. However I find yoga that works from the inside out, and it is an honor to share. I love all kinds of yoga now, but Vinyasa was what originally opened my mind to becoming less judgmental and diving deeper into my world perspective. I am happy to conclude that today, I do practice with my mom at that same yoga center with many of those yogis from my past, but now, I totally get it.

By Zoe Wirth

Join Zoe on an adventure of your own to the magical beaches of Mexico from April 12th to 16th. Step out of your comfort zone and into Pure Bliss!

Awakening a New Frontier of Vinyasa Yoga by Dylan Sanders

Now, I will readily admit that I love yoga. I wake up looking forward to moving & shaking on my mat and embracing each breath. Like many folks out there, my yoga practice has saved me - its light magnetized me away from a dead-end job, its gentleness taught me to treat myself & others with more compassion, and its acceptance has allowed me to appreciate the depressive tendencies that I deal with regularly. 

My yoga practice has encouraged the belief that each one of us provides our own strengths to construct & uplift the entire community. We are innately not flawed individuals, and together we can create harmony.

There’s just one glaring element that’s always bugged me about modern vinyasa yoga (and it’s kinda a big one). It’s kept me up at night. It goes against the fundamental idea of philosophical yoga. It clashes with the Sutras themselves.

(Your brain): Well, Dylan, What is it…

It’s the asana itself. Vinyasa yoga really is an exclusive club, open only to those that fit into the boxes and shapes dictated by 50+ years of regressive asana approach. Asana instills a steady meditative seat only for those who fill that mold. 

(Your brain, again)(gasps): WTFiddlesticks!?! 

Bear with me…

Close your eyes (figuratively, I’d like to you continue reading!) & imagine a typical vinyasa yoga class. Physically, how does it begin? How are you led & instructed to warm up your body? What part builds heat & sweat? What is that demanding move you do a seemingly excessive amount of times until you finally are led towards savasana? It was likely a very lovely class that left you floating around Cloud 9 afterwards.

(Let me take a moment to answer my own questions - child’s pose / a variation of Sun Salutation A / a variation of Sun Salutation B / chaturanga to upward facing dog)

The question is - What if not every vinyasa class had to look like this? What if we could embrace the ritual & repetition of vinyasa yoga, move in an invigorating rhythm, yet acknowledge the practical flaws of the traditional system? What if we could truly move in an evolutionary manner - what doors could that open in our consciousness?

(Your inquisitive brain, again): So the yoga I’m doing is wrong?!?

Well, that’s part of it - the yoga isn’t wrong, but the application of asana into your body can be more efficient. Traditional Sun Salutation As are made for a specific body type - open hamstrings, long arms & legs, short torsos and mobile wrists & shoulders. We can improve on these specific movements in time, but only to the extent that our bodies fit into these boxes. I have skis for arms & legs, minor restrictions in my hamstrings (especially for my size) and wrists & shoulders trained daily to support my bodyweight.

But I will never progress into those pristine Sun Salutations we see on our favorite Instagram accounts, or from old Ashtanga videos of the 90s (for the total yoga nerds out there). Why not? I have shallow hip joints that hit their end range quickly when I fold forward, and the dorsiflexion of my hand is limited by my wrist structure. There’s no effort or manifestation in the world that will change my bone structure…

….and I accept that. I know my body well enough to know that my physical performance does not rely on the limited muscles targeted in traditional Sun Salutations, and that I can access more beneficial work in my musculature with even just a few tweaks & changes. 

(Once more, your brain chimes in with the perfect question): But how???

In the Awakening Yoga system, we bypass the unnecessary stresses emulated in vinyasa yoga in order to access the places we can realistically grow. We step or float to a wider stance to encourage full leg activation. We avoid the multitude of deep forward folds. We integrate the strength of each piece of the body to support the movement of the whole, and we propose that the spinal column has more fluidity than we’ve ever known. 

I wholeheartedly believe it’s time to change the conversation regarding yoga asana. Vinyasa yoga wasn’t made for every “body”, but it sure as shit can be if we think outside the box. If we progress our thoughts on chaturanga, closed hip postures, classical vinyasa structures and break from the industrial logjam it has created, we can actually develop vinyasa yoga for EVERY BODY.

It is time for physical yoga to truly be evolutionary - and Awakening Yoga is searching for just that. On our retreat, be prepared to sweat & challenge yourself, feel muscles light up that have been dormant for years, and unlock strength that is coiled deep within. We will embrace the breath, stabilize the mind’s chatter and open up an entirely new world of vinyasa yoga for you.

By Dylan Sanders

Join and Dylan and Nicki to awaken your yoga practice at Prana Del Mar in Baja, Mexico, April 6-11, 2019. Get ready to connect and transform!

How I Mastered My Life by Brendan Burns

From a very young age, I was unfortunately no stranger to childhood abuse. To cope, I dove head-first into my schoolwork as a way to escape my daunting reality at home. After receiving my undergraduate, MBA, and law school degrees from Cornell University, I spent several years working on Wall Street in various banking and hedge fund roles.

To the outside person, I seemed “successful” on the surface, but deep down, I was completely depressed and anxious.

This came to a peak when I woke up one day to find my live-in girlfriend gone, my Wall Street boss firing me, and my brother in the hospital. My life was falling apart.

I was 25 at the time, and with my world crashing down around me, I did the only thing I could. I headed straight to the Self-Improvement section at my local Barnes and Noble and ultimately began studying 1-on-1 under top experts (many of whom were authors of these books).

I began reading several life-changing self-improvement books that would transform my life forever. I read and read and read until my life and mindset starting shifting drastically. And although these books were a great start, I knew I needed more.

While watching one of my friend’s Facebook Live videos earlier this year, she mentioned how much she and her husband enjoyed watching the recent Tony Robbins documentary “I Am Not Your Guru,” which profiles his annual Date with Destiny event.

That evening I watched the documentary, and over the course of the week I watched, re-watched, and soaked in every scene that the documentary had to offer. As soon as I finished, I called in and signed up for Tony Robbins’ next in-person course: Unleash the Power Within in San Jose, California.

The experience was so game-changing for me that I began to attend more and more of these events. I saw Adyashanti in North Carolina, Jack Kornfield in Northern California, and more. Being in person allowed me to connect with the energy and power I needed to harness my transformation.

I found it extremely helpful to learn from someone in person to make real life changes. Here are just a few of the things I learned about how to make real and lasting changes:

1) Learn from and model someone who is outstanding and has exactly what you want or who has made the exact change that you seek

2) Learn by total immersion. Get on a plane. Get in front of the right people. Expose yourself to this person or the right group of people, and live and breathe exactly what you want. Hunger is the biggest factor in getting what you want, so Tony Robbins says you must make this goal a total obsession.

3) Spaced repetition. This is defined as “a learning technique that incorporates increasing intervals of time between subsequent review of previously learned material in order to exploit the psychological spacing effect.”

In other words, model experts who already have what you want. Get as close to them as possible and pursue opportunities for total immersion. And make sure you surround yourself with other like-minded people who are on a similar journey.

I was so inspired by the culmination of these experiences and everything I’ve learned over the past few years that I wanted to create something similar to guide people on their journeys. This information is too important not to share, and it is now my mission to share it, inspire people to take control of their lives and help them create whatever they long for in life!

By Brendan Burns

Join Brendan on an adventure to master your own life in the magical town of Nosara in Costa Rica, May 4-9, 2019. Get ready to change your life!

Making My Mess My Message by Maya Jules

As I sit down to write this, I’m reminded of a line in one of my favorite songs of all time - “Once In A Lifetime” by The Talking Heads - when David Byrne says, “And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here…?” It’s pretty wild to look back at the bumpy, treacherous road that landed me in this spot right here, right now, introducing myself to a community of beautiful souls who are deeply committed to health, wellness and transformation. I never would have guessed I’d be here, although when I really reflect, it makes absolute perfect sense, like everything eventually does.

So, how did I get here? Well, my life looked very different just two years ago. I was working my butt off in the music industry, surrounded by energy vampires of the highest degree. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun, too. I live and breathe music and live experiences, and I had some truly extravagant experiences, but the universe had other plans for me. To back up a bit, I had a history of debilitating depression. There were far more days I wished I could be dead than alive. This began seasonally and situationally, but it didn’t end there. I tried multiple types of therapy and several medications, but nothing moved the needle on my mental health. There was something wrong with me and no one knew what it was. Although I spent more nights than I want to admit researching how to quickly and effectively end it all, there was still a persistence inside of me to find an answer. I’ll save you from all the grueling details of that part of my journey, but fast forward to that answer.

I got a diagnosis. I learned that what I was experiencing made perfect sense for what was actually happening in my body. I had an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s, which often comes equipped with depression, apathy, low energy and other symptoms of that nature. I was so relieved to finally know what was causing me to feel as bad as I had for the last four years, but I was also terrified. This news changed just about everything for me. I would go on to change my diet numerous times, adopt intensive healing protocols, work with holistic healers and coaches, read everything I could get my hands on about Hashimoto’s, nutrition, biohacking, wellness, etc., and finally, after six months of sneaking breaks to research health at work, I left my job, and essentially my life, to start a new one. 

At first, my new life had no real agenda other than learning and healing. I traveled, went on retreats and enrolled in a nutrition certification program to arm myself with more knowledge and practical tools. The information I was absorbing was life changing - from nutritional science to personal development practices to spirituality and energy systems. I started meeting more people in the health and wellness space, and I found my tribe.

I had to figure out how I was going to make a living out of this. Having worked in events for 10 years, I wanted to keep that part of me alive and apply it to my newfound passion. Human connection has always been a top value for me. So, I started a transformational events company to create containers for people to heal and expand. I started manifesting incredible, inspiring clients and would work with them to produce their workshops and retreats. Then, upon completion of my certification program and practice hours, I launched my wellness concierge practice to offer personalized nutrition and lifestyle consulting. Everything was lining up.

Fast forward again - I met the amazing Kori of Revamp Retreats. We chatted on the phone after connecting in a Facebook group. We later met up in person and quickly realized we had a similar vision for our businesses and our lives. The communication was sporadic at first, and eventually the pace picked up and we started working on various projects together. It was so fulfilling to be working alongside another person, not to mention a totally magical person! I never wanted to fully work alone because I’m quite extroverted, and Kori was looking for more help with retreats. One thing led to another and we decided to join forces. So that brings me to now. I’m extremely grateful for all the hardships that guided me here, and I’m happy to share that my Hashimoto’s is in remission and I am no longer depressed. Rather, I look forward to each day and love my life! Functional nutrition approaches, retreats and mindset work saved me. 

Kori and I are now working on planning lots of transformational experiences for you next year and beyond, and I really hope you can join us! Feel free to reach out to me if you or a loved one is struggling and looking for answers. I am fully committed to spreading wellness and helping people optimize their lives. Let’s revamp together. 

You can find me at mayajules.co or @my.oh.maya on Instagram. I can't wait to connect!

xx Maya

How To Believe in Magic by Naomi Zelin

*Disclaimer hitch hiking can be very dangerous, if you want to hitch hike please be aware of an already existing safe hitch hiking culture*

I rose with the sun this morning in anticipation to extend my visa on Koh Samui. I should have taken the first boat out. Looking back, it would have been a lot easier if I would have planned this better. But I didn't plan thus I've wasted a whole lot more money and a whole lot more time on this experience. But as I sit here waiting for the next ferry to arrive I can only think that this all happens for a reason. Reasons bigger than us, reasons that cannot be explained.

I woke up ready to take a taxi, but then decided I was too broke after calculating the price of a visa extension. With that, I decided that I would take the long way and start walking. Now if you've never hitch hiked before it's a feeling that’s hard to replicate, absolute anxiety with total euphoric excitement. If you're someone who has traveled enough, this is the high of choice, the feeling of endless opportunity and of course the promise of a great story and one of a kind experience. 

I began my journey by hitching a ride with an Englishman who had just dropped his kids off at school. He tells me that he's lived on this island for 20 years now. With deep conviction, he tells me of his travels in Africa as a young man in his 20’s, stating at that point in his life he realized how big the world was. He came to the conclusion that trying to see the entire world would be very complicated and time consuming. So he decided that staying in one spot was the way to really enjoy life. 

He dropped me off half way to my destination. 

Next a motor biker picked me up to take me to the pier. He was an Indian man who wore a long string of rudraksha malas. He went out of his way to make sure I was dropped off at the right pier. We spoke little about ourselves because the wind made it complicated to chat. Our brief interaction included him asking if I was a yoga teacher and how long I will be staying on the island. He then told me he owed shop by the pier, with a big pure heart. I let him know I would come check out his shop one day.

When I got to the pier, I went to the first stand I saw and got my boat ticket. The woman at the counter said that it would be 250 bhat and the ferry would board at 12:30 p.m. I look at my phone and see it’s only about 9am, the thing about spontaneous-no-plan-travel is that it's not always the most efficient, although I can guarantee you it’s got a magic all its own. Now, it seems that I've have a few hours on my hands.

I'm in Thong Sala the city center of this small island I live on. How small is small? Well, to get to the other end of this island it's only about an hour bike ride. Most places I either walk to or hop on a friend’s motor bike, as we never really go much farther than a 10 or 15 minutes away from our bungalows. 

So here I am in the big city with time to kill, first stop is to fuel up on a light nash and some coffee, obviously. I walk around not looking for anything in particular just letting the wind and stores float me around. I head to the 20 bhat shop (think dollar store but Thai style), where I see all the many things I want to buy for my future home. Wherever that place may be. I buy a glass container because I'm sick of plastic bottles and how wasteful they are. Feeling like I've seen all I need to, I decided that it’s time to head back to the pier to see what's happening, maybe catch a few sun rays before I venture on to the other island. 

I walk past the store of the man who picked me up on his motor bike, and I walked in to say hello and thank him again for the ride. He then asked me what kind of yoga I teach and if I do any energy healing. Shaking my head vigorously I said, “Yes! I teach many styles of yoga and I am also a reiki healer!”  He looked at me deeply and inquisitively, asked if his chakras were balanced and if I could read his energy without using my hands. I reply by telling him I'm still new to energy healing and I cannot do that quite yet. 

Without any other question this man asks, “Ok so how did you hurt your back?”

Not knowing this man for longer than 10 minutes and him calling out my back problems. I get this feeling that he’s one who knows a lot more than meets the eye. Even after all the travel and healers I've met, things like this still surprise me but not as much as they did when I first began my journey of spirituality.

He asked me about my back problems and spoke to some trauma in my mind that I've buried with many layers of dirt. He gave me some insights into my pain both physically and mentally, with next to no information about me, he hits it spot on. This man doesn't advertise or try to get money from me, another sign that he is a healer from the heart and not for the recognition. The one thing I'm most passionate about it is always making an effort to work on myself, always trying to heal and reconcile unhelpful conditioning. I immediately ask him when we can schedule a healing session. He says that he’s busy with running his business and that he spends his spare time on his own meditations, this was his way of gracefully declining my offer.  Since I am persistent and can never take no for an answer, I ask again, when can I come to see you. He walks around the question with another question about me. Then he uses a pen to push at my hands. He tells me I have a pinched nerve in my back and that I should stop doing forward bends in my yoga practice. 

He says he's an energy and meridian healer, using pressure points all over the body to release trapped energy. We continue to talk about energy and he asks me how long I've been a healer for. I reply with my educational background, my degrees and all the certifications that prove me to be a healer. He looks at me with a smirk, totally unimpressed with my answer. Replying sarcastically with, “Ok now ask me about my degrees…” I shoot him a look and in unison we both begin to belly laugh. I say, I understand a degree is often just piece of paper letting others know that you passed some illusionary standard. I then went on to tell him that everything that makes me a healer is not something I was taught in school but comes from an intuitive place that I was born with. With truthful reflection, undergrad and graduate school taught me nothing that I didn't already know. 

He finally hands me his card and says that I can email him to make an appointment for some energy work. He looks at me and said, “I was meant to pick you up on the bike this morning, we were meant to meet one another.”

I agree whole heartedly with him. 

Now off to the pier to extend my visa.

By Naomi Zelin

Join Naomi on an adventure of your own to the magical lands of Morocco, March 16-22, 2018. You never know what surprises await you!

It Began with Bali By Jamie Nicole Wirht

It Began with Bali.

It was not so long ago I quit my job in fashion. Cold turkey with no real plans.

Why? Because I was unhappy where I was. I could feel it in my body, hear it in my thoughts, and others could see it on my face.

The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to help people and I knew I couldn’t wait much longer to explore that path. Then of course uncertainty started to kick in...

How would it happen?  When would I know?  Where would I start?

So I decided to ask for signs and trust that it would all fall into place.

November 2016 I was in a yoga class. Right after shavasana, the teacher mentioned she had one final spot left for her yoga retreat to Bali in January. I got full body chills. 

Could this be it?  Could this be the next step?

That night I went online and looked up the retreat. Thankfully it was not your average yoga retreat. The title read…Manifest & Magic Bail Retreat. Learn how to manifest the life of your wildest dreams.

I was Sold.

It was a full body YES.

So I let go of the fear of traveling alone and the uncertainty of what would happen. I quit my job that December, packed my bags, and went…

Bali is not a place. It’s a vibration. A portal. A location to go to experience a different version of yourself. The person you could be without all the fears and limiting beliefs you currently have. The person you are craving to be but you just don’t have the time, can't see the next steps, or don't even know where to start.

Bali was a big shifting point for me and I am happy to have it help change you too. 

It’s now two years later and I am a yoga teacher and a spiritual life coach. I teach others how to manifest their dreams lives because I manifested and created mine. On this retreat, I will teach you all the tools that got me to this point. I am now getting paid to empower others and do what I love in the place that started it all.

But to get to this point I had to jump. I took many jumps and so can you.

If you are waiting for a sign, a signal, a moment, a feeling, a change…this is it. 

This is your sign!

Enough is enough. Don’t go your whole life playing small. Wishing, wanting, and hoping. Your dream life is yours if you want it.

Get in the driver's seat. Take charge. Your life won’t change if you don’t start changing it.

If you feel called, take the jump and come CONNECT, CREATE, & RECHARGE in BALI with me! I am Co-leading with my amazing friend and teacher Miki Ash on October 10th-16th. 

I hope to see you in paradise.